New Wildcat Owner
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1
From: Atlanta
New Wildcat Owner
Greetings all!
I am new to the Buick Forum, however I was a long-time member of the AutoWeek Combustion Chamber before it crashed and burned, c.2005, Tripleplate.com (until the admin shut that board down) Carnuts.us (again, until it was shut down) and Autocult.au. (Ditto. Anyone sensing a pattern here?
) I am currently a semi-regular on TheHotSeatForum. com.
I've always loved convertibles and regretted selling my 1966 Pontiac Ventura 'vert 10 years ago, even though the proceeds served as the down-payment on my home.
I was bitten by the convertible bug again about two years ago and started saving for my next 'toy', ideally another Ventura/Catalina or a 1967 Olds Cutlass, but I was willing to consider anything that fit within my budget as well as my garage. Then last year, a colleague told me about her brother-in-law's 1970 Buick Wildcat convertible that was apparently gathering dust under a car cover in his garage. I Googled '1970 Buick Wildcat' since I could not recall what they looked like, then picked-up the phone to call my colleague's BIL.
The BIL told me that he purchased the Wildcat in late 1971 from the original owner and it had been garage-kept since new. After talking for 20 minutes or so, it was clear that he was not emotionally ready to part with the car, and his asking price was several thousand dollars beyond my available funds. I quickly forgot about the Buick and started trolling Craigslist and E-bay once again, nearly pulling the trigger on a 1963 Olds Dynamic 88 several weeks ago, until the owner of that car stopped responding to phone calls and e-mails.
I was lamenting my lost opportunity with the Olds at work one day, to anyone who would listen, when my colleage stopped by my desk and said 'give my BIL a call.' Our conversation that evening had a completely different tone, he told me that he wanted to sell the Wildcat to finance another project, so we agreed to meet-up at his house the following weekend so I could look at the car.
What I found this past Sunday was a mechanically-solid, rust-free car in original condition with approx. 86,000 miles. A test drive confirmed that the 455 V-8 and the transmission were in good shape and that with the exception of the 40 year old radio, all the electricals worked. The only real issues are with cosmetics - the paint is showing its age as is the driver's seat upholstery. All the chrome and trim is on the car, except for one wheel hub, and is all in good to excellent condition.
Two hours later, we settled on a price and I wrote a check for the down-payment. We agreed that we would close the deal within a month, which allows me time to come up will an additional $1200 to meet our agreed-upon price and him to search though his garage and shed for the original tonneau for the convertible top, the replacement weather-stripping he purchased a few years back and possibly the missing wheel hub.
The only things I plan on tackling immediately is to replace the valve cover gaskets (which are original to the car and starting to leak) and the shock absorbers (last replaced in 1998.) The car will need to be repainted, which will be addressed as soon as I have saved up the cash to do so, and the front seat re-upholstered (again, as funds allow.)
But for now, I have a new toy that will be driven on nice days.
And here she is in all her glory:
I am new to the Buick Forum, however I was a long-time member of the AutoWeek Combustion Chamber before it crashed and burned, c.2005, Tripleplate.com (until the admin shut that board down) Carnuts.us (again, until it was shut down) and Autocult.au. (Ditto. Anyone sensing a pattern here?
) I am currently a semi-regular on TheHotSeatForum. com.I've always loved convertibles and regretted selling my 1966 Pontiac Ventura 'vert 10 years ago, even though the proceeds served as the down-payment on my home.
I was bitten by the convertible bug again about two years ago and started saving for my next 'toy', ideally another Ventura/Catalina or a 1967 Olds Cutlass, but I was willing to consider anything that fit within my budget as well as my garage. Then last year, a colleague told me about her brother-in-law's 1970 Buick Wildcat convertible that was apparently gathering dust under a car cover in his garage. I Googled '1970 Buick Wildcat' since I could not recall what they looked like, then picked-up the phone to call my colleague's BIL.
The BIL told me that he purchased the Wildcat in late 1971 from the original owner and it had been garage-kept since new. After talking for 20 minutes or so, it was clear that he was not emotionally ready to part with the car, and his asking price was several thousand dollars beyond my available funds. I quickly forgot about the Buick and started trolling Craigslist and E-bay once again, nearly pulling the trigger on a 1963 Olds Dynamic 88 several weeks ago, until the owner of that car stopped responding to phone calls and e-mails.
I was lamenting my lost opportunity with the Olds at work one day, to anyone who would listen, when my colleage stopped by my desk and said 'give my BIL a call.' Our conversation that evening had a completely different tone, he told me that he wanted to sell the Wildcat to finance another project, so we agreed to meet-up at his house the following weekend so I could look at the car.
What I found this past Sunday was a mechanically-solid, rust-free car in original condition with approx. 86,000 miles. A test drive confirmed that the 455 V-8 and the transmission were in good shape and that with the exception of the 40 year old radio, all the electricals worked. The only real issues are with cosmetics - the paint is showing its age as is the driver's seat upholstery. All the chrome and trim is on the car, except for one wheel hub, and is all in good to excellent condition.
Two hours later, we settled on a price and I wrote a check for the down-payment. We agreed that we would close the deal within a month, which allows me time to come up will an additional $1200 to meet our agreed-upon price and him to search though his garage and shed for the original tonneau for the convertible top, the replacement weather-stripping he purchased a few years back and possibly the missing wheel hub.
The only things I plan on tackling immediately is to replace the valve cover gaskets (which are original to the car and starting to leak) and the shock absorbers (last replaced in 1998.) The car will need to be repainted, which will be addressed as soon as I have saved up the cash to do so, and the front seat re-upholstered (again, as funds allow.)
But for now, I have a new toy that will be driven on nice days.
And here she is in all her glory:
Last edited by Drachen; May 24, 2011 at 08:25 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4
From: Tampa Bay,Florida
Welcome and congrats on your find those Wildcats were always stylish my dad owned a 65 fastback and i know of a 69 drop top in my area thinking of talking to the owner if and when the financial situation improves again welcome.
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